Car coupler



April 17, 1962 K. DE PENTl CAR COUPLER Filed Dec. 6. 1960 United States Patent Ofiice 3,029,956 CAR COUPLER Kenneth L. De Penti, Mayfield Heights, Ohio, assignor to National Castings Company, a corporation of Ohio Filed Dec. 6, 1960, Ser. No. 74,141 7 Claims. (Cl. 213-147) Ihis invention relates to automatic car couplers, particularly those having a knuckle type locking mechanism actuated by a bottom operated locklitt assembly.

In such couplers as typified by the A.A.R. standard E coupler, a knuckle pivotally mounted in the front portion of the coupler is held in a closed position by a lock that is vertically movable between a lower locking position and an upper unlocking or lock-set position. When the lock is in lock-set position the knuckle is free to pivot to open in uncoupling position. The lock is maintained in the lower locking position by gravity. Since gravity is the basis for maintaining the lock in locking position, the use of this type of coupler on mine and industrial cars where it is necessary to invert the car to unload it has been limited. As is usually the case in car dumping operations, a single car in a train of cars is inverted without uncoupling it from adjoining cars. In these circumstances, the gravity responsive lock may assume a lockset position when the associated car is inverted, and may remain in such position when the unloaded car is restored to its former upright position. Thereafter, with the coupler in lock-set position it will uncouple from the opposing coupler upon the application of a pulling force to the cars. This condition may occur with the aforementioned standard coupler as well as with various of the other types of car couplers now in use.

The invention disclosed herein provides an automatic car coupler having a locklift assembly with means that precludes the lock from assuming a lock-set position when inverted.

Hence, the primary object of this invention is to provide a rotary coupler with key means which will preclude the coupler from assuming a lock-set position when inverted, thus adapting the coupler for rotary dumping operations.

It is a specific object of this invention to provide a knuckle type coupler having rotary locklift mechanism with key means that will cooperate with the coupler head to preclude the coupler from assuming a lock-set position when inverted.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide on the rotor of a rotary locklift assembly of a car coupler an apertured key having a projection thereon adapted for abutting engagement with the coupler head to maintain the lock of the coupler in a locking position when the coupler is inverted.

The present invention achieves its objects by mounting a movable key on the rotor member that cooperates with the locklift assembly. When the coupler is in its normal upright position, the key hangs loosely on the rotor shaft and does not hinder the easy operation of the normal locklift assembly. When the coupler is inverted, as during unloading operations when one car in a train is inverted, the key slides to its operative position in which a projecting lug on the key is in abutting engagement with a complemental projection or recess on the coupler head. With the key abutting or engaging the coupler head, the rotor member is unable to rotate with the locklift assembly thereby holding the coupler lock in its locking position. Thus the lock, upon placing of the coupler in an inverted position, is not permitted to move by gravity into unlocking relation with the knuckle. Hence, an automatic car coupler having a rotary locklift assembly embodying the present invention can be used in rotary dumping operations without danger of the coupler assuming a lock-set position which would permit the associated cars to become separate after they are returned to their upright positions.

These and other objects will become more apparent FIG. 4 is an end view of the embodiment shown in 4 FIG. 2, with the coupler in upright position.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a modification of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the modification shown in FIG. 5, the parts being shown in the position assumed when the coupler is inverted.

FIG. 7 is an end view of the modification shown in FIG. 5, with the coupler in upright position.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated the underside of an automatic knuckle type coupler having a rotary locklift assembly. Mounted beneath the coupler head 2 is the locklift assembly 4 and a rotor member 6. On rotor 6, a slidable key 8 is mounted and is shown in its inactive position. It is well known in the art that upon actuation of the rotary locklift assembly the lock of the coupler is raised from a locking position relative to the knuckle to a lock-set or unlocking position in which the knuckle is free to be swung to open or uncoupled position.

The preferred embodiment of key 8 is illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the U-shaped body portion 19 of the key can be seen mounted on the shank portion 12 of rotor 6 and is in its inactive position on an upright coupler. Lug 14, projecting upwardly from the vcrown of the'key, has

an abutment surface 16 adapted forengagement with" complemental surface 18 on lug 19 on the coupler head when the coupler is inverted. A bolt 20 extends across the open end of the U-shaped body portion to secure the key to the rotor. welded to body portion 10 can be used in lieu of a bolt with equal efiectiveness. The key is caused to rotate with rotor 6 by the provision of a pair of flat surfaces 22 and 24 on opposing sides of portion 12 of the rotor, disposed in opposed relation with the inner sides 26 and 28 of the key. The key is in effect keyed to the shaft yet is permitted to slide in a direction perpendicular to the shaft a predetermined amount equal to the clearance between bolt 26 and the opposing section of rotor portion 12.

In FIG. 3 the key is illustrated in the position it slides to when the coupler has been inverted. It will be ob- 7 served that lug 14 on the key is in engagement with lug 19 on coupler head 30 and will preclude rotation of member 6. Thus the lock of the inverted coupler cannot drop downward because it is held fast by the'rotary locklift assembly which is prevented from rotating by key 8. The dotted figure of the key indicates its normal inactive position when the coupler is upright. The key in its active position prevents the rotor from rotating in the direction indicated by the curved arrow, thus maintaining the coupler locked.

It will be understood that when a coupler equipped with a rotary locklift assembly is inverted, the lock may Patented Apr. 17, 1962.

A cotter pin or suitable metal bar.

are inverted, the lock, locklifter assembly, and rotor member move together. The key means disclosed herein instantly drops to the FIG. 3 position and precludes the entire interconnected mechanism from moving to a lock-set position by engaging a complemental fixed lug on the coupler head.

During normal upright operation of the coupler, when it is desired to move the coupler lock to lock-set position, key 8 in nowise interferes with or impedesv easy operation of the locklift assembly of the coupler. It is primarily when the coupler is inverted that the key will assume an operative position.

In addition to functioning as an anticreep means when the coupler is inverted, key 8 is capable of functioning as a secondary or tertiary anticreep when in an upright position. Under combined end shock and vertical displacement of the coupler, the key, although upright, will move upwards to its active position and engage lug 19 on the coupler head to prevent the rotary locklift from being actuated, thereby precluding the look from assuming a locket position.

In the second modification of key 39 illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, the U-shaped body portion 4% is crowned with a symmetrical projection 42. In this modification of the invention, the coupler head is equipped with a lug 43 having a recess 44 complemental to projection 42 on the key. The relationship of the projection and lug when the coupler is in upright position can best be seen in FIG. 5. When the coupler is inverted, the key assumes an active position, wherein projection 42 is received in recess 44 to firmly lock rotor 46 against any rotational movement, thereby maintaining the coupler lock in a locking position. An advantage of the second modification over the first lies in the ability of the key to preclude rotational movement in either direction. The preferred embodiment of FIGS. 1-4 permits easier engagement of the key with the complemental lug on the coupler head although it does not limit rotational movement of the rotor in both directions. A particular advantage of the invention as a whole lies in the key and its ease of mounting on existing rotor members. To aid in the mounting of the key on the rotor, U-shaped body portion in the preferred embodiment of the invention, and member 40 in the modification thereof, have leg members of difierent widths. This can be more clearly seen in FIGS. 4 and 7. By having one leg member of U-shaped portion wider than the other leg, as well as having corresponding widths to the flat surfaces on the rotor shaft which are adapted to receive the legs in abutting engagement, there is no opportunity to mount the key on the rotor shaft incorrectly. The key can be employed on a coupler adapted for single rotor operation as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, or on double rotor operation as, shown in FIG. 1, with equal case.

What has been disclosed, therefore, is a novel key readily mountable on existing rotor members adapting the coupler for rotary dumping operations as well as supplying a secondary or tertiary anticreep means to the coupler.

The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation and there is no intention of excluding such equivalents as fall within the purview of the claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A car coupler comprising a head, a lock in said head, said lock being movable between a locking position and a lock-set position, rotor means operatively connectedto said lock, a rotor member mounted on said rotor means, key means slidably mounted on said rotor member, said key means comprising a U-shaped body portion and a symmetrical lug on the crown thereof, said lug having a surface adapted for cooperation with a complemental lug on said head, said lug maintaining said lock in locking position when in engagement with said head.

2. A car coupler having a lock movable from a lower locking position to an upper unlocking position, rotor means operatively connected to said lock for actuating the same, key means slidably mounted on said rotor means for movement in a direction perpendicular to the pivot axis of said rotor means, said key means, when said coupler is inverted, being movable into engagement with abutment means on the coupler to preclude actuation of said rotor means.

3. A car coupler comprising a head, a lock in said head, a locklifter assembly joined to said lock, a rotor member rotatably mounted on said assembly, key means slidably mounted on said rotor, said key means being disposed in an inactive non-engaging position when said coupler is in its upright position, said means sliding into abutting, engagement with said head when said head is inverted to maintain said coupler in a locking position.

4. A car coupler comprising a head, a lock movably disposed in said head, Said lock movable between a locking position and a lock-set position, a locklifter assembly operatively joined to said lock, a rotor lever rotatably mounted on said assembly, U-shaped key means slidably mounted on said rotor, said key means comprising an abutment lug adapted for abutting engagement with fixed means on said coupler head, said key means having an elongated slot adapted to receive therein said rotor member, said key means engaging said abutment lug when said coupler is inverted to maintain said lock in its locking position.

5. A car coupler comprising a head, a lockdisposed in said head, said lock movable between a locking position and a locket position, a locklifter assembly operatively joined to said lock, a rotor lever rotatably mounted on said assembly, key means slidably mounted on said rotor, said key means comprising an elongated aperture, a projection extending outwardly from one end of said key, said projection adapted for insertion in a recess in said head to keep said rotor in a fixed position when inverted to maintain said lock in its locking position.

6. A car coupler comprising a head, a lock in said head, said lock movable between a locking position and a lock-set position, a locklifter assembly pivotally joined to said lock, a rotor lever rotatably mounted on said assembly, key means slidably mounted on said rotor, said means comprising a U-shaped member with an abutment lug disposed thereon, said lug having a surface disposed thereon adapted for complemental engagement with a similar surface on said coupler when said coupler is inverted to maintain said lock in a locking position.

7. A car coupler comprising a head, a lock in said head, said lock movable between a locking position and a lock-set position, a locklifter assembly pivotally joined to said lock, key means mounted on said assembly, said means comprising a U-shaped body portion and a lug on the crown thereof, one leg of said body portion having greater width than the other of said legs, said assembly having surfaces of corresponding width to receive said legs in engagement therewith, said lug adapted for complemental engagement with an abutment on said head to maintain said lock in a locking position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

